Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader
IPOB cancels one week sit-at-home order in South East, clears way for Anambra governorship elections
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cancelled its one week sit-at-home order across the South-East region.
Citing ‘genuine intervention’ by elders, traditional, and religious leaders from the South East region, IPOB, Thursday, IPOB said the order was called ‘after a due consideration of the positive impacts of their engagement.’
The secessionist group had declared a one week sit-at-home order in the entire South East region in protest against the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Nigerian government.
The sit-at-home had put the Anambra governorship election slated for Saturday, November 6 in jeopardy as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also rejected calls for a postponement of the political exercise.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had, penultimate week, also directed all the security agencies to ensure that nothing stops the Anambra governorship poll, this Saturday.
Spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful, disclosed the cancellation of the sit-at-home order by his group, in a statement he issued on Thursday evening.
“Following the genuine intervention of our elders, esteemed traditional Institutions /Rulers and Religious Leaders, and after a due consideration of the positive impacts of their engagement, and sequel to the fact that Our elders have spoken in our terms , the Leadership of IPOB ably lead by MAZI NNAMDI Kanu hereby and immediately CALL OFF THE ONE WEEK SIT AT HOME earlier declared to commence tomorrow, November 5 to November 10, 2021.
“We have equally considered several appeals by our mothers who earn their living based on their daily economic activities which will obviously be affected if Biafra land is locked down for one whole week. It’s never our intention to add to the pains of our people, hence our decision to suspend the sit-at-home.
“IPOB leadership is only interested in Our referendum and peaceful agitation for self-determination, and cannot by under any guise be seen to be interfering with any electoral process.”
The separatist group urged people of the Anambra State to come out en masse and vote for candidates of their choice on Saturday.
“The people of Anambra State should go out enmasse and peacefully exercise their franchise come 6th November 20121 and accordingly, chose a leader of their Choice and should not be intimidated by anybody, group of persons or security agents.
“Credible intelligence available to us confirmed that the Nigeria DSS has concluded arrangement to deploy a branch of their trained terrorist group to Anambra state come 6th Day 2021, to unleash mayhem on our people and attribute the killing to peaceful IPOB members.
“Anambrarians should vote and standby to protect their votes. No rigging of any kind will be tolerated on the Anambra State governorship election. It must be transparent, free and fair to all.
“We wish to thank Biafrans, IPOB members worldwide, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom for their continued support for our dogged struggle for independence,” IPOB said.
